FAQ: When and how to stake your plants

You're a good plant parent. You've managed to keep your little darlings alive but now you realize that they’re not so little any more.

Is your plant growing towards a window and looking a little bare on the back side? Big plants can be top-heavy and once they start to lean too far to one side they’re liable to fall over. We recommend staking your leaning plants to re-centre them in their pot. By gently tying them to a pole you will be able to offer them the support and structure they need to stand up straight. To avoid having them lean towards the light, rotate your plants 180 degrees every two weeks.

Many climbing plants, like philodendron, monstera and other aroids climb up trees in nature. Offering your plant something to climb will allow it to reach its full potential. You can expect larger leaves and some may even develop different leaf shapes as they mature. Monstera deliciosa, for example, will develop those classic leaf fenestrations (splits or holes) that we all love.

For most plants a bamboo stake, tomato cage or trellis are sufficient. But some climbing plants would benefit from a moss-pole. This will allow their aerial roots to grow into the moss to help them climb. A moss pole is able to be moistened which will increase the humidity near your plant and help it live its best life.

We carry a more sustainable alternative to moss poles: Climb Forest Climb coconut coir poles. They come in a variety of sizes and can be purchased in store or online from our Plant Care highlight on Instagram.